Patient records compromised in Stockton lab burglary | Crime

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STOCKTON, CA - Lab records containing at least 700 patient records were stolen during a burglary at the Health Care Clinical Laboratory Patient Service Center at 89 W. March Ln. in Stockton. The lab, which is affiliated with St. Joseph's Medical Center, was broken into on February 2.

Hospital spokeswoman Natalie Pettis said lab workers advised officials of the burglary after noticing a broken storeroom window and two missing storage boxes containing lab requisition forms. According to Pettis, the stolen forms contained information on patients seen between Dec. 13 and Jan. 5, as well as between Jan. 17 and Jan. 31.

On March 16, a third box, containing records of services administered between Oct. 24 and Nov. 18, was also discovered missing, said Pettis.

Pettis said at least one patient reported an attempt to open a credit card under their name since the thefts.

In addition to notifying police and government agencies about the thefts, St. Joseph's also alerted all affected patients by mail to recommend they take various actions to protect their credit. St. Joseph's also offered free enrolment in a credit-monitoring system to those affected, Pettis said.

St. Joseph's advised anyone believing their identity may have been compromised to visit the hospital website,where a full explanation of the breach and information on contacting the three major credit bureaus was posted.